Don't miss the 36th Annual New England Auto Auction

This 1968 Chevrolet Corvette is among the selection of exceptional vehicles that will be offered for sale at auction on Saturday, August 17 at the Owls Head Transportation Museum.

The 36th Annual New England Auto Auction is tomorrow and excitement abounds at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The Auto Auction is the Museum’s premiere annual fundraising event as well as a highly anticipated event in the New England automotive community and beyond.

Bidders and spectators from around the world are expected to attend “one of the great summer events in New England” on Saturday, August 17. The 36th Annual New England Auto Auction will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. A final preview day will take place August 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, providing potential bidders with an opportunity to view the large selection of vehicles slated for sale. Museum doors will open at 7:00 a.m. for bidder preview and registration on the day of the auction and will extend through the end of the sale.

When featured in The Wall Street Journal, the auction was heralded as “the real thing,” a worthy alternative to Pebble Beach’s Automotive Week. The sale represents one of the finest and most diverse collections of automobiles available in the Northeast. Automobile enthusiasts will not want to miss the opportunity to bid on or view the high-drama sale of nearly 200 fine quality automobiles and motorcycles.

With many exciting changes at the Owls Head Transportation Museum during the 2013 season, the 36th Annual New England Auto Auction is certain to be one of the most remarkable auctions to date.

“Shifting gears from first to second is always an exciting part of a vehicle’s transition through the process of forward movement. Maxing out the revs through launch to a sustained speed, a shift to second gear provides the ability to build upon the efforts the first gear had provided, launching the vehicle toward its mission at a greater speed and smoother velocity. In this case, first gear is our Director Emeritus Charles Chiarchiaro, providing the tremendous effort put forth of 36 years in the driver’s seat, providing the direction and action needed to bring the Museum to where it stands today. The shift to second gear is representative of my position now as your Executive Director. It is a very exciting time here at the Museum as we are experiencing a transitional year with new blood, with vibrant ideas and goals. Think of The Wizard of Oz when the set goes from black and white to living color,” wrote Owls Head Transportation Museum Executive Director Russ Rocknak in the Spring/ Summer edition of the Museum’s membership publication, Strut & Axle.

The 36th Annual New England Auto Auction will also be positively affected by this wave of transition. The Owls Head Transportation Museum has partnered with experienced auctioneers Kaja Veilleux and John Bottero from Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. Together we will streamline not only our internal process, but the auction itself, by offering a premium lot of consigned automobiles and motorcycles that will be auctioned off in an exciting, organized and efficient fashion guaranteed to excite both bidders and spectators. With the expertise of tenured staff, including Curator Ethan Yankura, and the addition new staff, including Auction Coordinator Toby Stinson, who brings a vast knowledge of automobiles and great personal enthusiasm to the auction, we strongly feel that our combined expertise and talent will make the 2013 Auto Auction one of the Museum’s best. Auctioneer Ethan Yankura will start off the day before handing things off to John Bottero, who will be at the block for the balance of the day.